Ratchet bit-brace



(No Model.)

N. SPOFPORD,

RATGHETQBIT BRAGE.

No. 246,233; Patented Aug. '23, 1881.

g Walk A WITNESSES y. INVENTOR r I Ma I ATTORNEYS N PETERSPhohrlnhugnphnr Washmginn n c TINTTED STATES PATENT @TFIQE.

NELSON'SPOFFORD, OF HAVERHILL, MASSACHUSETTS.

RATCH ET BIT-B RAC E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,233, dated August23, 1881.

Application filed March 29, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON SPOFFORD, a citizen of theUnitcd States,resident atHaverhill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ratchet Bit-Braces;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being badto the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a representation of a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a detailview. Fig. 3 is a modification of the connection for the rod E.

This invention relates to ratchet bit-braces.

Previous to this invention no means have been devised to prevent thebackward motion of the bit at the moment of starting the same in thewood.

The object of this present invention is to overcome this difficulty.

The invention consists in a locking device constructed and arranged ashereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A is the body of an ordinary bit-braceprovidedwith the ratchet device. B is the head; 0, the bit-holder,'and D theratchet, the end 0 of the holder passing through the ratchet, to whichit is loosely secured, and said ratchet having a cavity, 0, in itsextreme end 0 E is a bar, having at its end 0 the arms 0 6 with space 0between.

F is a screw-rod, having one end, f, in a screwthreaded hole, f, in arme, and the other end, f passing through the plain hole f in arm 0Between these arms the rod F is provided with a thumb-wheel, f, forturning the latter to turn forward, but preventing any back action. Inthis manner, when the bit is started, itis kept from slipping out fromthe wood.

The device is taken from the brace when it is desired to draw the bitfrom the wood.

Fig. 2 shows the ratchet device and the manner in which the pawlsoperate the same as usual.

The handle has only an oscillating movement while the rod E is in place;but when this rod has been removed the brace-bit may be used in theordinary manner.

I claim- In a ratchet bit-brace, the rod E, provided with the arms 0 eand spring-pawl G, in combination witlrthe screw-rod F, havingthumbwheel f the ratchet, and the bit-holder, substantially as'and forthe purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON SPOFFORD.

WVitnesses HENRY N. MERRILL, J. Orrs WARDWELL.

